After a winter of stick-to-your ribs cooking, aren't you hungry for something lighter, fresher, zingier? Spring-ier?
Stow away the heavy cast-iron casserole pans. Say "Same time next year" to the turkeys, roasts, root vegetables, and bubbling, all-day stews. The passage from winter to spring echoes the transition from an ornate Beethoven symphony to a cool, clean, sparkling jazz solo.
The trick here is simplicity, ease of preparation, and surrendering to the natural tastes and textures of the ingredients (using leeks and just a dash of olive oil in homemade hummus , for example, trades heft for buoyancy and zip). As a result, spring is allowed to speak, lightly and eloquently, for itself. May winter rest in peace; and see you next December.
